Decision details

Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) are planning a high profile “Welcome Back Weekend” that will attract visitors to the town over the weekend of 11th to 13th March 2022.

The ambition of the Weekend is to:

- Increase footfall / visitor numbers in Ipswich Town Centre; and

- Increase the ‘dwell-time’ for people visiting the Town Centre.

The weekend will involve a range of activities including: A light installation that will attract people into the town centre to see it. The show will need to be creative, imaginative and welcoming ensuring engagement with a wide range of people / communities.

3 quotes were obtained and a validation process was carried out by officers from the Economic Development team. The quote submitted by Handsome Made was found to best demonstrate value for money and best deliver the ambitions of a “light spectacular on the Cornhill” which will attract people back

to the town centre.

Handsome Made (Handsome Made Suffolk) are Suffolk based and will deliver a “Key Worker Thanks” Light Installation on the Cornhill. A built platform will be installed on the Cornhill, the platform has a dazzling array of light columns, each column is capable of displaying millions of colours and spectacular sequences, whilst visitors can walk through them. The columns will be lit from 6.30pm (light depending) at night until 9pm every night.

The installation appeals to all ages and is accessible to all, the experience is unique, immersive, fun and creates sound to light sequences.

The installation will take roughly 5 days to install, for this reason it is agreed that the Cornhill will benefit from 1 weeks switch on.

The Events and Market team at IBC have been consulted and agreement has been given that the installation will be in place until 20th March 2022 (i.e. beyond the main weekend). Derig will take place until 23rd March 2022.

The details of the event:

The light installation will be on the Cornhill and will start being installed on the 2nd March 2022, the lights will be launched on the 11th March 2022 at 6.30pm. The lights will play every night from 6.30pm – 9.30pm until 20th March, derig will take place from the 21st March for up to 3 days.

The project is 100% funded by external sources (i.e. the Welcome Back EDRF Fund administered via the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) and as well as complying with the Council’s contract standing orders, the relevant ERDF rules have been followed in reaching this decision.

To fund Handsome Made, £24,499 for the ‘Light Installations’ on the Cornhill (for 11th to 20th March 2022).

Reason:

To attract people back to the town centre.